In what has grow to be an annual custom given ample airtime on state TV, Putin performed on a “Legends of Hockey” staff alongside massive names of the previous akin to Pavel Bure and Slava Fetisov.

The opposition was comprised of newbie gamers, plus a governor and a pro-Putin billionaire. Putin’s staff gained the largely slow-paced sport 12-7.

5 targets was on the low aspect by Putin’s requirements — he scored eight within the 2015 sport and 7 final 12 months. The 65-year-old Russian president took up hockey late in life after being a eager judo competitor in his youth.

Novice-league hockey gamers set a “fantastic instance” for extraordinary Russians, Putin stated, including “due to you, tens of millions of individuals make a alternative in favor of a wholesome way of life.”